Apple Music For Artists vs. Spotify For Artists

Apple Music For Artists vs. Spotify For Artists

Apple Music For Artist

Apple Music For Artists has long lagged behind Spotify and Pandora with the tools and analytics that it offers artists.  That changed overnight with the public launch of a toolkit that insiders have been playing with for months.


Apple Music For Artists now offers all musicians and their team a robust set of analytics and notifications, as well as some limited tools to control your image on the platform.



Two Key Features
Apple Music For Artists launches with iOS app as well as a web version. That should please artists and teams on the go – if they own an Apple device. Also, Shazam, which Apple acquired last year, is front and center, adding an important source of data often used to measure early spikes in interest.
The usual stats can be found in a dashboard format including overall plays, iTunes downloads, and spins on Apple Music editorial and algorithmic stations. In an interesting twist, badges are awarded for hitting milestones and personal bests. 
 
Global geotargeted data on a city level is available both as a heat map and as a list. 
 
What's Missing?
 
Spotify still offers artists more control of their image and messaging on the platform and an impressive set of How To Guides. But neither Spotify or Apple Music offers any direct ability to message their fans for free. Only Pandora offers several tools to communicate with fans and potential fans alongside its own Next Big Sound powered analytics.
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Spotify For Artist

With Spotify for Artists, you can see who’s listening to your music and take control of your artist profile. As part of the Spotify for Artists community, you'll also be the first to know when we create new tools and features for artists. Just click Claim Your Profile in the top-right of this page. Once we confirm who you are and give you access, you’re in charge.

Becoming a verified artist.Getting verified on Spotify lets your fans know that your artist profile belongs to you. When you get access to Spotify for Artists, you’re automatically verified on Spotify and your profile gets a blue verification check mark.

If you use one of our preferred artist distributors to upload your music to Spotify, you get instant access to Spotify for Artists. Log in to your account with one of those distributors to get started, and you’ll have a blue check mark in minutes.


Access Spotify for Artists on the go.

​Access Spotify for Artists wherever you are by downloading the app. iOS users can find it by visiting the App Store, while Android users can find it in the Play Store. The app is designed to help you get ready, manage and track your new release.
With the Spotify for Artists app, you can:
Get your profile new-release ready. Update your bio, share your playlists, promote your music, and control how listeners see you on Spotify.
Follow your release as it grows, all in real time. See who's tuning in and get live updates on your new release, whether you’re on the road or in the studio.
Learn about your listeners. Understand who's listening and where to book gigs—whether you're playing a few shows or planning a full tour.



See who’s listening.With access to Spotify for Artists, you’ll be able to track which of your songs are performing best and learn how fans are discovering and listening to your music around the world. Your stats can help you run promotional campaigns, pick new singles, or even route your next tour.



Take control of your profile.

Your artist profile on Spotify is where all of your music and content lives. It’s also where fans can discover more about what’s happening with you—hear your newest releases, dig deeper with one of your playlists, find out where you’re touring, even buy your latest merch.
Spotify for Artists puts you in charge of your profile—so you can update your image to reflect your latest look and tell fans about the music you’re into right now.

Look great on Spotify.

Fans on Spotify see your profile image whenever they search for you or visit your profile on any device. While default images are pulled from Rovi’s database, Spotify for Artists makes it easy to upload a new image anytime you want—so your profile always reflects your unique identity.



ARTIST BIO
How to edit your artist bio on Spotify.

Your artist bio is your story—in your own words. With Spotify for Artists, you can write a bio, save it to your profile, and update it anytime you want. With 1500 characters to share with your fans, you can update this to whatever makes sense for you—whether that’s sharing your story as an artist or the inspiration behind your latest release.
Your bio can include links to any artists, songs, albums, or playlists on Spotify. And you can throw in a link to your Wikipedia page for fans who want to dig deeper.

ARTIST'S PICK
Featuring music you love.

Artist’s pick gives you control over the music at the top of your artist profile. It’s a great way to tell fans about a track you’re featured on, announce your upcoming tour, showcase a new playlist, or shout out an album you’ve got on repeat.
Pick something you love — any track, album, podcast, or playlist — then add a cool behind-the-scenes image and short message about why you love it. Your artist’s pick lives at the top of your profile for two weeks (or if you pick a tour, until the day after the last show) and you can change it anytime you want.



SHARING PLAYLISTS
Connecting with your fans.

By featuring playlists on your artist profile, you can give your fans an inside look at the music you love and the songs that inspire you. Artists like Diplo have built huge playlist followings, which they use to promote their own music, share the songs they’re playing on tour, and champion the new artists they discover.



Promoting your shows.
You want Spotify listeners to know whenever you’re in town. That’s why we work with Ticketmaster, Songkick, Eventbrite, and AXS to feature tour dates on your profile. We also recommend your nearby shows to your followers and frequent listeners over email and inside the Spotify app. We do whatever we can to help spread the word.

Highlights

• Spotify For Artists and Apple Music For Artists are both intended for artists and their
  teams, not necessarily labels
• Spotify Analytics on the other hand, is intended for labels and partners with multiple-artist rosters
• While Spotify For Artists has the most individual metrics, Apple Music For Artists has the most flexibility for user-generated reports and comparisons
• Spotify For Artists supports its platform with greater artist page customizability.
• Spotify also sends out regular notifications about playlist adds and audience milestones​